I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. Linda Saran: Most of the crowd thought it was part of the show and didn't move. local Four nonstop. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. They would want to talk, she said, and they wouldnt freak. When I turned around, some people were already trying to leave, and others were just sitting there going, "Yeah, that's great!" I miss Tina a lot. For the first February in 15 years, Lisa Del Sesto said, she hasnt had the nightmares. After the investigation ended and prosecutors had no more questions, after reporters stopped calling and the years passed since that deadly night, the man who was the sound technician and stage manager at The Station nightclub was left with his thoughts. So, before I knew it, this finger was contractured down in this position and the rest of them were all bent backwards because the skin had tightened up.". They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. [48], Following the tragedy, Governor Donald Carcieri declared a moratorium on pyrotechnic displays at venues that hold fewer than 300 people. Today, we mourn the 100 lives lost in the Station nightclub fire and the hundreds more whose lives will never be the same. There isn't a guilt in terms of like, that we knowingly did this or or caused it but there's a guilt that we it happened on our watch, happened on our watch. We haven't played it since then and probably never will. Patrick Lynch: They are running the operation.
The Station Fire: 100 victims in photos - The Providence Journal The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. Petrarca remembers one of the most beautiful moments shes had. After 15 years of it being a dominant part of her everyday life, she said she is ready for it to be a part of her past. The Foam.". The trunk bears the names of the fire victims. He don't know. Phil Barr fought to breathe on his own. Christina Pimentel wasnt at the Station 15 years ago but she remembers the fire that killed 100 people because one of them was her uncle, Carlos Pimentel Sr. You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore.
"Barn Find" Harley Davidson Shovelhead Custom Survivor Found - YouTube For those who lived through it or lost a loved one, healing from the horrific scars, both physical and emotional, takes time. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. There had to be that period for me. Linda will forever wear the scars of that horrible night. As of September 2008, at least $115 million in settlement agreements had been paid, or offered, to the victims or their families by various defendants. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. The Guest List is based in part on John Barylick's narrative non-fiction work, killer show, the station nightclub fire, America's deadliest rock concert. Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? Jim Axelrod: When you come to, you're in a hospital room. It just so happens that we're . And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. (crying) So I can't expect anybody else to. Phil Barr: and I felt the door and I just heaved my shoulder into it. He got a tire iron from his car, smashed the glass, and started pulling people out. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam and say the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. First of all, I don't know you would, how would you how would you accomplish the detail and the amount of new information in a news conference or, you know, a commercial or something that we would try and do on our own. I never thought it would get so bad., He told bartender Julie Mellini that they had to leave, and she and several patrons followed Vanner out the kitchen door. Patrick Lynch: Did he do his job perfectly? Scott James has written a book about the tragedy called "Trial by Fire.". The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue.
The Station nightclub fire: What happened, how many died, who was [94] Kendall's version of the band holds the copyright for the Great White name. You know people didn't react instantly. I couldn't hear noise. The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. Phil Barr: I don't like to talk about it, but I remember feeling weight on top of me, and I'm pretty sure I crawled out from under another person to pull myself up. 2003 deadly fire at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, USA, Great White, Jack Russell, and Mark Kendall, National Institute of Standards and Technology, "The Station nightclub fire 10 years later: Healing continues as West Warwick, Rhode Island, takes next step in recovery", "The Station Fire: Timeline of a tragedy", "Station tragedy leads to tougher fire code", "Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire (NIST NCSTAR 2), Volume 1", "Beyond grief: Trying to make sense out of the Station tragedy", "Tragedy Catches Up to a Metal Band Past Its Prime", "Great White Fireworks Set Off a Controversy", "The Station nightclub fire: What happened and who's to blame for disaster that killed 100? Regardless, Lynch points out the Derderians still chose to take a plea deal instead of going to trial. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. Jody King: When he walked into a room, if there wasn't a smile he'd start balancing stuff to get you uplifted and smiling.
The Station nightclub fire: What happened, how many died, who was [95], Russell performed a benefit show in February 2013 in Hermosa Beach, California in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the fire. Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. In the aftermath, Vanner battled an addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol, which he used to cope but which cost him jobs and his drivers license. We have an exit through the kitchen. It was crowded, and it was getting bad. [57], On September 4, 2007, some families of the fire's victims expressed their support for Biechele's parole. "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. [58] Others pointed out that Biechele had sent handwritten letters to the families of each of the 100 victims and that he had a work release position in a local charity. The story of three survivors that were trapped when the massive Cypress Street viaduct collapsed. Michael Derderian: The club was sold. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. [77], A benefit memorial concert was held in February 2008 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and featured performances by Tesla, Twisted Sister, Winger, Gretchen Wilson, and John Rich. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The answer is no. It couldnt continue another 10, 15 years, it couldnt. You see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. The Station nightclub fire occurred on the evening of February 20, 2003 at The Station, a nightclub and hard rock music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230. It was really everything to me at that time. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), R.I. State House homeless encampment removed after legal fight, After the 80th anniversary of the tragic fire, a Cocoanut Grove memorial is coming to Boston, This affordable airline says it will bring at least 20 routes to an R.I. airport. Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. Two years after the fire at The Station nightclub, the Derderians learned about a piece of evidence they say is important that was never presented to the grand jury: an eight-page fax sent to the Attorney General's Office anonymously just months after the fire entitled "The Fire. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. And that song reminds us of that night. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. [27] A portion of the nightclub roof collapsed at 11:57 p.m., and a second portion in the building's sunroom collapsed at 12:07 a.m..[24] Patients were transported to Kent Hospital, which was filled to maximum capacity due to the fire. And I said my hands won't work. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. She spoke with the Globe about Jefferey and Michael Derderian, the . Tracy died never giving up. Michael Derderian: But that door became impassable almost within seconds because clearly there's foam that's burning at 800 or 1,500 degrees. That's how thick the smoke was. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. I needed for that day to come, she said. This is a company that did little to educate their employees about the limits of polyurethane foam. "Literally laid there and said, 'God please just take care of my family,' because I knew I was going to die,'" survivor Linda Saran recalls. Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. "We wanted the full story to come out, not just some of it, and for people who want to come to their own conclusion on what happened that night," says Jeff Derderian. Patrick Lynch: First of all, I think it's pathetic, disgusting and unsettling to think that they're even speaking now The foam that they put up had a direct impact on the survivability of the bulk of the people that were assembled that night. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation that lined the walls and ceiling around the stage, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded. Jody King: I see the horror. Michael Derderian: Correct. Her bill was $646 that month, she said. John Barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the Station nightclub fire. It was that fast. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? Linda Saran: That's when you make a decision. Jeff Derderian: They didn't even bring up the fax to him. Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes.
The Station Nightclub Fire: Revisiting the Lessons You should be proud." Michael spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Phil Barr: I loved it. That night is not a coherent memory for her, she said, but a sequence of moments when she was hyper-focused on finding her friends or helping those around her. Michael Derderian: The field test is crystal clear. [21] A total of 462 people were in attendance, even though the club's maximum licensed capacity was cited as 404.[2]. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. The four exits inside The Station: "There's an exit near the stage an exit through the kitchen. I don't even like to talk about it. In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - Saturday marks the 18-year anniversary of the Station Nightclub fire that left lasting scars on numerous families and the state of Rhode Island. Why had the fire spread so quickly? How did you meet him? Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. A National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigation of the fire under the authority of the National Construction Safety Team Act, using computer simulations with FDS and a mockup of the stage area and dance floor, concluded that a fire sprinkler system would have contained the fire long enough to give everyone time to exit safely. The fire left her with burns over 40 percent of her body, it incinerated her hair. And it was ugly. [17][16], The concert was emceed by Michael Gonsalves, a disk jockey for Providence rock radio station WHJY who was also known as "Doctor Metal". I couldn't understand him or understand the magnitude of what was going on there. America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List explores the Station nightclub fire through gripping survivor accounts and family members and friends of victims who have memorialized their loss . Jody King: As I went by the fire station fire trucks are coming out Now the question in my head is why are all these firetrucks leaving? Investigators eventually discovered the fax was sent by Barry Warner, a former employee at American Foam the company that had sent the Derderians the packing foam made of flammable polyurethane. Honored to have been able to attend such an in depth and eye opening training opportunity. [21] The Station did not have a sprinkler system installed. We took shortcuts. [49] In 2013, Kendall told The Providence Journal that he maintained amicable contact with some survivors, victims' families, and the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. Phil Barr: Yep. At the time of the fire, he had just started a new job closer to home in Providence at the local CBS station. She got out. REELZ today announced the network's original documentary America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List premieres February 20th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT presenting the deeply personal stories of lives forever altered by the tragic Station nightclub fire that left 100 people dead, more than 200 injured and devastated the tight-knit community of West Warwick, Rhode Island. [tears up, shaking his head]. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through," explains Scott James. My friends were dead, my other friends are severely injured, I no longer look like myself. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see Great White, an 80s band now with some new members lead by singer Jack Russell and known mainly for their hit "Once Bitten, Twice Shy. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It would have been my legacy, Vanner said. But then the door would go back up when it was going to be a loud night. Nine months after the fire, the club's owners, brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian, along with Daniel Biechele, the band's tour manager, were each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Remembering the Station Nightclub Fire - ICC [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. [8], Great White had two opening acts for the February 20 concert: Trip, a group from Vancouver, Washington, and Fathead, a local Rhode Island band. Jason Hahn. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. According to author Scott James, Great White had reportedly used a large pyro display without permission at other clubs, including just days before the fire at a show in New Jersey. One near the bar. In the end, the survivors and victims' families settled for a total of $176 million. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. Jim Axelrod: If you have a message that you want the people of Rhode Island to hear, there were plenty of ways to get it out long before now. It looked like it was raining black fire. I remember getting pushed from behind. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Joe Kinan has had more than 120 surgeries, not the least of which was a hand transplant. For years, he worked in Boston for Channel 7. They didn't even let him talk about it. [84] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the site to the SFMF. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. It all started around 11 p.m. when the rock band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and the group's tour manager, Daniel Biechele, set off four large fireworks called gerbs. On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in The Station nightclub. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. So, it was very quickly they were in the circle of people we should look at. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. Also there that night was Bates College student Phil Barr, who was home for winter break. Eighteen years later, there is no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. His fiance, Tina Ayer, died at 33 in the fire, CBS Boston reported. [21] The fire spread throughout the building and was completely engulfed within six minutes of the pyrotechnic ignition. Michael Derderian: We say that they we're sorry for all of it.
Twisted Sister's Dee Snider Honors 2003 Station Nightclub Fire Victims [76] Another memorial was later that night the West Warwick Civic Center. Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. Jody King: "Anybody see Tracy?"
Survivors of nightclub fire that killed 100 share stories - FireRescue1 The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. But with last springs dedication of the memorial on the old nightclub site, Del Sesto said she thinks she has found a way not to forget, but to live with the memories. : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. She had a cellphone that was working and handed it off to anyone who needed to call home and let their family know they were safe. WEST WARWICK, R.I. The Station nightclub fire, where 100 people died and hundreds more were hurt, will never be forgotten by those who were there or lost loved ones that February night.. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders.